Howard Lake-Waverly
Herald, Oct. 21, 2002

HL Good Samaritan Center is finalist for prestigious award

The Howard Lake Good Samaritan Center is a finalist in
the prestigious Care Providers of Minnesota James B. Swanson Award of Excellence
competition.

"We were hoping to be in the top five," commented
activity director Sue Breeschoten. The award applies to all the nursing
home facilities in Minnesota, not just Good Samaritan Centers.

However, the care center was vaulted into one of two top
spots by judges who physically inspected the facility and audited Good Samaritan
on 16 different criteria.

Usually there are three top picks, Breeschoten said, but
apparently the other candidates were far outdistanced by Howard Lake and
another care center in Henning, which is located up north, she said.

The award criteria includes client satisfaction, community
involvement, staff development, and leadership.

The care center offers a Resident Council, which is made
of 15 residents who voice the interests of the residents in administrative
affairs, she said.

Every year, the care center surveys both residents and
their families about satisfaction, asking questions about everything from
laundry services to safety to privacy.

Its combined scores of "excellent" and "very
good" garnered answers in the upper 80 and 90 percents for 2001.

Volunteers are also active at the center, as evidenced
by numerous fundraising projects.

The Good Samaritan Auxiliary is responsible for contributing
a gazebo in the garden, stereo entertainment system, bird aviary, humidifiers,
garden furniture, a showcase, and helped purchase a van, among other things.

Something else that helped the application was the center's
association of successful people, such as Welton and Harriet Zander; who
earned the Wright County Outstanding Senior Citizen and runner up, respectively.
They both volunteer for the care center. Charlotte Gerber, who was a past
resident, was also named as a runner up.

The care center just recently finished a redecorating project
of its "living room," or front visiting area, which accounted
for new draperies and wallpaper, carpeting, two new recliners, and two Queen
Anne chairs, she said.

Their next venture is to achieve "elegant dining,"
which will improve the dining atmosphere and menus, Breeschoten said.

Other activities at the center include a new hand bell
choir for residents, and hosting the queen's Tea for candidates of Miss
Howard Lake, which was started this past year.

A tea is also being hosted for graduates that work at the
care center, she said.

The care center has also earned a number of safety awards,
being named twice by the state as deficiency free, she said. The center
also earned three safety awards from the Good Samaritan Center organization.

The credit goes to many, who work tirelessly to make the
care center comfortable, she said.

"The main thing is it's a team effort for providing
the best care," she said. Many people participate in making the residents'
lives better, she said.

The center is kept spotless by housekeeper Karla Graczyk,
dietary manager Tana Forner and maintenance Director Steve Strandquist
also deserve credit for their work, she said.